30-Minute Meal Recipes for Families

Family meals don't have to take hours to prepare. If you've gotta be in all places and directions at once (isn't that pretty much always?), try on these six recipes for clock-economizing size. Whether you're up for some stir-fry, a sandwich or something sauteed, our menu here is teeming with time-saving tips that'll make dinner come together lightning quick!

Spice up your next family meal by making these chicken fajitas from Delish. Instead of sauteing the bell peppers and onions in a pan, this recipe calls for you to broil them in the oven. Broiling veggies keeps them at the perfect crispness while cooking a big batch, fast.

A whole meat loaf takes a while to cook. But making it into single servings cuts the time in the oven. Plus, your family will love this fun twist on traditional meat loaf. Betty Crocker offers a tasty version of mini meat loaves that includes Bisquick mix instead of bread crumbs.

For a crisp crust – and a quick cooking time – pound pork cutlets to make them 1/8" thick. Then, saute them in medium-high heat olive oil in a large saucepan. This recipe for sauteed pork cutlets from Martha Stewart finishes the dish with fresh lemon juice and Parmesan cheese for a simple but succulent feast.

Whip up a meatless meal with a hummus club sandwich from Cooking Light. The protein-rich hummus is made by pureeing chickpeas with tahini and garlic (or go store-bought for even less kitchen time). Spread the hummus on bread and top with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and bean sprouts for a healthy, unique sandwich.

Cooking with a wok is a great way to make a quick meal. Make sure that your ingredients are chopped thin so that they'll cook fast on the high heat of the wok. This beef and bean stir-fry recipe from Better Homes and Gardens gets an added boost of nutrition and flavor from cannellini beans. Yum!